REAL SCOOP: Rouche wins appeal for lower sentence

United Nations gang founder Clay Roueche has been granted a reduction in his 30-year sentence after telling a Seattle judge last month that he is a changed man. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Robert Lasnik cut 72 months — or six years — off of Roueche’s 360-month term, which Lasnik originally imposed in December 2009 after Roueche pleaded guilty to smuggling cocaine and marijuana, as well as money laundering. Roueche had filed his own appeal last month, noting that the sentencing guidelines for his crimes had been lowered since he was sent to prison for three decades 10 years ago. He asked for a reduction to 21 years and 10 months. But Lasnik said in his written ruling Tuesday that the reduction should land Roueche’s sentence somewhere in the middle of the new guidelines. As part of his review, Lasnik said that he had to consider “the nature and seriousness of the danger to any person or the community that may be posed by a reduction in the defendant’s term of imprisonment.” But he said he could also factor in “the post-sentencing conduct of the defendant that occurred after imposition of the term of imprisonment.” He noted that Roueche’s behaviour in prison has been “exemplary”and that he has taken dozens of self-improvement and educational courses. “The Court is pleased to note that Mr. Roueche has committed only one infraction while incarcerated, described as a minor assault,” Lasnik said. “Letters from his family members and friends indicate that he has a support system in place.” But the judge also reiterated the seriousness of Roueche’s original crimes — “the massive amounts of drugs, the highly sophisticated means of transportation, the huge amounts of money, and the pervasive presence of weapons” — as well as “Roueche’s leadership role in the UN gang.” The U.S. Attorney noted in her submissions on Roueche’s appeal that he “was responsible for the smuggling, transporting, and distributing over 418 kilograms of cocaine and over 1,290 kilograms of marijuana” and said that “it was undisputed that members of this sprawling criminal enterprise had employed acts of violence.” Several of Roueche’s UN gang mates have been convicted in B.C. of both conspiracy and murder over the last decade. Roueche was arrested in Texas in May 2008 after he attempted to enter Mexico for a UN gang initiation ceremony. Canadian authorities had tipped their Mexican counterparts and he was denied admission to the country. He was sent back to Canada on a flight that landed in Texas where U.S. police were waiting for him. He pleaded guilty in a Seattle courtroom on April 28, 2009 and was sentenced seven months later. Roueche said in his written court submissions last month that he pleaded guilty “to end this chapter of my life that has brought my family so much grief.” “I never took into account that my lifestyle then would have such a negative impact on the world around me,” Roueche wrote. “After recognizing the devastating effects that the drug trade has caused internationally, and that I was a factor in that cause, I confronted my past, accepted my conduct as my own, and took responsibility.” kbolan@postmedia.com blog: vancouversun.com/tag/real-scooptwitter.com/kbolan